Discovering The National Genographic Project

By Ronald Watson


A current project by the National Genographic Society is attempting to map and study the patterns of migration related to humans through collecting and analyzing DNA from different populations. The National Genographic Project, now in phase 2.0 Next Generation continues to focus primarily on studying different types of DNA from the human populous. With over one hundred forty countries involved as of 2018 and one million participants, the study has become well known and rather popular over the last decade.

Created by Spencer Wells in April of 2005 as a non-profit partnership between the National Geographic Society and the Waitt Foundation, the studies and trials are still ongoing and most likely will continue for quite some time. The organization, being a non-profit, received funding for the project through private donations. Once enough funding was available, DNA samples were collected from different cultures and populations.

In Fall 2012, the society announced a new genotyping array which has been dedicated to genetic anthropology known as GenoChip. The array is designed specifically for anthropological testing and includes mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome DNA, X-chromosome DNA, and SNPs from autosomal DNA. The new chip's design was a collaboration between Illumina, Family Tree DNA, Eran Elhaik of John Hopkins and Wells of National Geographic.

Another new chip was introduced in 2015 which was designed as a joint effort between Genographic Lead Scientists, Family Tree DNA and Vilar. In addition, an Admixture test was developed by Elhaik and Wells which classifies individuals through an assessment of proportions of genomic ancestry related to nine different regions of the world. These nine regions include, Native American, Sub-Saharan African, Northern European, Mediterranean and Northeast Asian.

The society began using Helix DNA sequencing for the first time in Geno 2.0 Next Generation. Unlike earlier phases, the current phase is focused on analyzing populations based on modern day demographics using between eighteen and twenty-two populations. By collecting DNA samples from these groups, Helix acquires samples of saliva from participants which is then analyzed for genetic and genomic markers.

Volunteers have been integral in participating by providing samples of DNA along with participating in citizen based scientific projects. The society actually now sells self-testing kits to members of the public which wish to become citizen scientists by providing DNA. In fact, such participation has always been advised and encouraged by different genealogical organizations which promote and report benefits from DNA based and other scientific research.

The latest and most advanced technology associated with DNA and genome testing is now being used as of this latest phase of the study. Through the use of various technological equipment and data collection, the organization is hopeful in expanding knowledge of the historical aspects of the human story as well as the connection between different cultures and populations. As such, researchers hope to harness the power of the greater population in order to discover new data and history beginning with the earliest days of the world.

While researchers have been successful in collecting a number of DNA samples, there has also been criticism, most notably by the Indigenous People's Council on Biocolonialism. For, it appears that some Native American tribes are concerned that DNA tests have the potential to incorrectly identify tribal members as not being indigenous to North America. As a result, not only have some Native Americans refused to provide DNA samples, many have also been boycotting corporations associated with the study including IBM and Gateway.




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